02/12/2007

Card show brings out the hobby enthusiasts

New twist to collecting memorabilia

By Garret Ellison

gellison@record-eagle.com

TRAVERSE CITY — Dylan Gauld has some pretty good incentive to do well in school this semester.

"I'm bribing him,” said his mother, Mary K. Williams, of Traverse City, who hauled 11-year-old Dylan and three friends to the Grand Traverse County Civic Center on Saturday for the annual winter sports card and memorabilia show. "If he gets all A's on his next report card he can get something special.”

In its fourth year, the show is organized several times each winter by Traverse City's Derick Graczyk. The rows of tables and display cases celebrate the time honored tradition of sports card and memorabilia collecting and trading.

Graczyk pointed to his display case of hot sellers: the memorabilia cards, or those with either an autograph or some kind of game-used equipment built in.

He said almost anything gets used, from slivers of bleachers to helmets, jersey's — even chunks of the bat, ball or face-mask depending on the sport.

"I'm waiting to see a jock-strap card,” Graczyk said. "It always surprises me what they'll come up with next.”

Graczyk credits the memorabilia inserts with revitalizing a slumping card market in the mid-90s, when over-production flooded the streets with cards worth nearly nothing today.

The memorabilia line has been controversial over the years, with some collectors accusing the card companies of going too far by slicing up vintage jersey's — like those worn by Mickey Mantle — and inserting them into cards.

But, they're hot sellers.

In 2004, a line of Presidential Cut Signature cards — as in President of the United States — were inserted into packs. Topps Card Co., found signature-carrying documents from George Washington to George W. Bush and cut the autographs out for a card line. Some sold for upwards of $25,000.

"Those were so hot you couldn't even get your hands on the packs,” Graczyk said.

Topps repeated the ploy on 2006 with a Declaration of Independence Cut Signatures line.

None of those at this show, but plenty of oddballs to chose from.

Sid VanSlyke, of Traverse City, shelled out $5 for a 1992 Upper Deck, Michael Jordan... baseball card.

"I kind of just collect goofy cards,” he said.

At another table, Ron Koontz, of Traverse City, set up a display of comic books and miniature figurines.

"It brings a new dimension,” he said, adding comics to the mix.

Bradley and Justin Ray, of Traverse City seemed to agree. The two brothers, 9 and 12 years old, played with Koontz's display of Heroclix, which are little miniature DC Comics figurines.

"We like superheroes and action guys,” Bradley said.

Sports card and memorabilia values fluctuate much like the stock market, based on variables like season, region and how the team is doing. When the Tigers went to the World Series last year, their card prices spiked.

"If the local boys are doing good, their stuff sells,” Graczyk said.

"The Lions on the other hand...” his voice trailed off.

Hall of Fame status helps. Steroids don't. Mark McGwire cards, for instance, don't sell much.

"Barry Bonds, too,” he said. "You'd think he'd be a hot seller, but people just don't like him.”